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Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America – LEDA – was founded in 2003 by Gary Simons, founder of New York City’s highly regarded Prep for Prep program. It is now the preeminent national nonprofit organization dedicated to diversifying the national leadership pipeline by helping high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds gain admission to our nation’s most selective colleges and supporting their success at these institutions.

Each year, we recruit a new cohort of LEDA Scholars – 100 qualified high school juniors who show leadership potential but lack the exposure and support they need to attend highly selective colleges. LEDA Scholars receive leadership training, writing instruction, standardized test preparation and a year of highly personalized guidance as they navigate the application and admissions process at the most competitive colleges. Throughout college and beyond, Scholars are offered ongoing advising, career counseling, postgraduate planning and community-building support to help them succeed and lead.

LEDA has been recognized as an emerging leader not only in the national effort to improve college access for low-income students but in the real difference we make for students once they get there. In 2014, we participated in the first White House Summit on College Opportunity for Low-Income Students – a recognition of the impact our distinct approach has on the success of our Scholars in college and far beyond.

The 2017-2018 LEDA application is now open. To start or continue your application, please click here.

To gain admission to the LEDA Scholars Program, students must complete a competitive application. The three-round process requires academic information and test scores, a personal statement and supplemental essay, a writing sample, biographical information, information on extracurricular activities, family financial information, and an interview for finalists.

Competitive applicants must meet particular eligibility and admission requirements. To learn more about the criteria, click here.

For more information about how to complete the application, visit our FAQ page. If you have any additional questions about LEDA’s recruitment and admissions process, please contact us at recruitment@ledascholars.org.